Girls gone broody

[Jus1]

I would make sure not one other quail can get in, and let them raise their chicks in there. It works best when they can just only concentrate on their chicks. While running around an aviary with that many chicks, some lose their focus on them and some chicks get lost. So, my advise, no other quail with them and leave them in there till the chicks are at least one week old, when they know their mom well and can care for themselves a little better. I've had broody quail, too.

Block them off now or just before the chicks are born? They are in a house right now. The size in the pic. I can add food and water for just them, but that severely limits their space

 

[Jus1]

I suggest you mark the "nest" eggs so that you can remove new eggs as they appear. That way they can concentrate on their one manageable clutch.

Mark them how? Like a sharpie? I thought that would be toxic so I never have

 

[BaJa]

Close it now and don't open it till they are at least one weak old, preferably older.

 

[Jus1]

Ok, this won't stress them out to the point of giving up? They have come so far and I'm shocked they stayed this devoted. They don't even move when I place food in for them. If the link works I'll add my youtube vid I toook for another guy I was trying to get help from. I make my way around seeking all kinds of help

 

[Erkenstein]

Mark them how? Like a sharpie? I thought that would be toxic so I never have

Yes a sharpie works great. I mark my eggs all the time with no problem at all.

 

[Jus1]

Thank you all for the ideas

 

[lomine]

Make sure you mark them really well because it can rub off.

 

[Erkenstein]

Make sure you mark them really well because it can rub off.

Not my experience with real sharpies, maybe with dry erase markers.

 

[lomine]

Not my experience with real sharpies, maybe with dry erase markers.

I use permanent marker and draw a line around the entire egg. I've also marked eggs with dates and the number of eggs set (i.e 1/5 to mark one of five eggs). This is on chicken eggs, but the lines often start fading quickly and the dates are almost impossible to read after two weeks. I'd mark a quail egg even more, maybe use a different color, just because they are already speckled. I'd rather err on the side of caution because I'd hate to accidentally use a partially developed egg.

 

[Jus1]

As long as a sharpie won't hurt I'm fine with that. I have many different colors